The united opinion. [volume] (Bradford, Vt.) 1881-1970, 1887-03-18
ARCTIC ANIMALS.
METHODS OF HUNTING EMPLOYED
BY THE MUTES OF ALASKA.

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Whales.
Nature seems to have provided certain
animals peculiarly adapted to the hyper
borean region, and eminently fitted to afford
sustenance TO the race who have to Withstand
tho exigencies and severe climatic changes
Of an Arctic zone. Tho principal animals
Inhabiting the waters of northwestern Alaska
are tho various members Of tho seal family.
During the winter the seals, rising on the sur
face, strike against the thin young ice and
mako . hole. Through these holes they
crawl upon the smooth surface and lie sleep
ing at the brink. In the early spring tho
first glimpse of sun induces them to forsake
their watery homes, and to bask in the warm
rays seems to afford great pleasure to these
amphibious creatures. When lying in these
positions tho hunter crawls upon all tours In
~ stealthy manner as possible.
When, after gallo, the ice Is broken up
into small leads a net made Of stout seal
hide II stretched across tho chasm, and the
seals rising to blow become entangled In the
meshes Within the last decade breech load
ing firearms have been used by tho Mutes
in hunting, but previous to their introduce
ton spears made with copper or iron heads
were used, the frame for carrying the spear
being carved from walrus ivory. To the
end Of the spear a long coil Of seal line Is at
tached, to which at intervals bladders Of the
seal are fastened. In these ways tho hardy
natives hunt tho animal which affords them
not only food, but also oil for their lamps
and hides for their clothing. When the icy
wind sweeps over the frozen expanse Of sea,
carrying with it small pellicles of snow that,
striking The face, cut the skin like charge
Of shot; whom fog and snow mist envelop
the landscape, a Muto hunter has to possess
grit and nerve to face conditions that no
white man has ever yet DONE
SUMNER SPORTS.
In the summer, when the ocean in again
free from the grasp of the iceberg seals dis
PORT themselves at the mouth Of every
stream and rivulet in order to catch fish or
seafeas. Then the kyack is called into re-
QUESTION. In this frail construction of skin
and wood the hunter, launched upon the
waves, paddles quietly and gently upon the
seal until within range. Naturally very
inquisitive animal, an imitation of the Groom
ing noise peculiar to tho phocm is sufficient
to make seal swim on the top Of the water
with its head protruding, thereby insuring
good object to aim at. Whistling is also re-
sorted to in attracting the seal to the surface.
The variety Of seal known as the ''smooth
black hair" is highly priced by the natives
throughout tho territory of Alaska north Of
the Aleutian islands. Its large hide forms
tho covering for boats and canoes and also
serves as boot soles entirely impervious to
water. Saddle backs are rarely seen to the
north Of Point Hope. These are very hand
some and conspicuous animals as they lie
s,n %l,o Thnsu
color is deep chocolate brown, with broad
band Of white, shaped like saddle, which
extends from tho back around the belly,
and from this peculiar marking they derive
their name.
Forty years ago immense herds Of the
bulky walrus might be seen disporting in
Owing to the prices which their ivory tusks
we're valued at hunting Of these pinnipeds be-
anne source of profit to the whalers. As
. consequence Of indiscriminate slaughter
heir numbers have been sensibly reduced,
Ind except around Bristol bay mud flats and
lpon Walrus island of the Pribyloff group
,ut few walrus are now seen in the Alaskan
eas.
There is perhaps no animal in nature that
appears SO clumsy and so i'll adapted to loco
notion as this enormous brute. Upon land
hey are utterly helpless. When striving to
fleet a landing upon an ice foe or rocks
hey use their fore tlippers to hold on by and
wait for tho assistance of each wave to hoist
hcm up to the desired spot. In hunting the
valrus tho rifle is used by tho natives, but it
would be safe to say that within the past few
ears not moro than hundred have been
Tiled between st. Lawrence island and Point
Barrow, owing to their shy nature. While
valrus ivory has SO deprecated in value that
does not pay to bring it to this port, de-
nand has sprung up for the hides, which
ave been found to make the finest and most
urable leather for betting purposes. The
se Of the tusks that form the appendages to
be walrus' head is to enable the animal to
liz for clans and other shell fish and also
he bulb roots Of sea weeds that arc to be
ound at the mouths Of tho numerous small I
treams and creeks that flow into the Arctic ,
WHALE AND EEAE.
Schools of white whalc-beluga, or gram
the first OF the cetacean family s
hat appear along the Alaskan shores when
be ice begins to break up. Their cleaning
1hite color is sensibly visible as they grace
lilly clave the dark green waters of the sea.
ollowing tho ice pack as it drifts to north t
III WcoO, Cucoc & DWELL w 10 VIC lOAo- |
miners of their gigantic brothers, the bow r
cad whale belaena in their passage to the '
orthern waters. In hunting these white )
halcs the natives on KotZebue sound dis c
lay great ingenuity. A fleet of kyacks
,read into semicirclo incloses the school,
the affrighted fish into shall
w water, until, being unable to escape by n
JASON Of grounding upon the beach, they fall r
'sy victims to tho spear or harpoons of
'eir hunters On the coast to tho north u
the sound the rife again serves as a a
eapon to kill the beluga. White whale u
ubber resembles limburger cheese in taste,
bile the flesh, if of calf, is tender and palat-
dc. Tho fins when boiled and covered a
it'll vinegar are an excellent substitute for
gs' feet.
Ursus Americans or the white polar bear =,
also food supplier for the Mutes. The .
tent Of bruin travels in the Arctic region a
. far and wide. Observations by Capt. .
ealy, of the United States revenue marine, ',
owe tho fact that the polar bears southern y
nit Of range is st. Mathew island-(60 de-
'ees, so minutes north latitude) in the Ben
ng sea- believe that few of these bears '.